Operation DEEP FREEZE, 50 Years of USAF Airlift in Antarctica, 1956-2006

284 Pages·2014·8.13 MB·English

Front Cover
Photo 1: In 1956, a dog sled waits near a C-124 Globemaster II parked on the ice at McMurdo
Sound.
Photo 2: On 22 October 2002, CMSgt Richard LaPlante assesses this New York Air National Guard
LC-130 Hercules after the aircraft was grounded because of a major storm. (National Science
Foundation)
OPERATION DEEP FREEZE
50 YEARS OF US AIR FORCE AIRLIFT IN ANTARCTICA
1956-2006
Ellery D. Wallwork
with
Kathryn A. Wilcoxson
Office of History
Air Mobility Command
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
October 2006

FOREWORD
On 21 October 1956, the first of many US Air Force aircraft, a C‑124 nicknamed “Miss
North Caroline,” landed in Antarctica after a 12½‑hour flight from Christchurch, New Zealand.
This flight initiated the Air Force’s participation in one of its longet running missions. Actually,
the US Navy started this “temporary” Antarctic mission in 1955, with Air Force augmentation
beginning the very next year. In the course of the next 50 years, the Air Force’s role would
continually evolve until it took over the mission’s lead in 1998.
The personnel participating in Operation DEEP FREEZE have consistently exhibited the
key competencies of the US Air Force. Time and again, they have demonstrated their courage,
determination, innovation, and hard work to accomplish this mission, often in Spartan conditions.
Their endurance ensured the success of the scientific research, providing transportation for the
scientists and support personnel as well as their supplies and equipment. Between October
1956 and February 2006, US Air Force airlifters would fly over 5,800 missions, moving more
than 78,900 tons of supplies and equipment and 94,500 passengers between New Zealand and
Antarctica and around the Antarctic continent itself. And, that does not include the transportation
of materials and passengers between the United States and New Zealand!
Leadership of the Air Force’s portion of the mission began with the Tactical Air Command,
which owned most of the troop transport C‑124 aircraft in 1956. Once those aircraft transferred
to the Military Air Transport Service, that organization and its successor, the Military Airlift
Command, organized and directed the Air Force mission piece. This new arrangement lasted
until the Air Force reorganized, inactivating the Military Airlift Command and activating
the Air Mobility Command in its stead. Most recently, mission command transferred to the
Pacific Air Forces. This last modification reflected a change in the overall concept, moving the
leadership from a mission‑related structure to a location‑focused architecture. This is not to
say one was better than the other, but it more closely reflected the Air and Space Expeditionary
Force organization used throughout the Air Force for other operations.
The year this study was published marked the beginning of a year‑long celebration of the
60th Anniversary of the Air Force, and it also witnessed the 50th Anniversary of the Service’s
inauguration in Operation DEEP FREEZE. This study reflects upon the accomplishments thus
far in support of this rigorous mission. Yet, even though the mission continues, the monograph
will not become dated, but will remain indispensable as it tracks the dedication, ingenuity, and
labor behind those first 50 years of Antarctic operations. As we continue to learn more about
operations in such a harsh environment, it will provide an insight into how far the men and
women of the airlift community have come, and it will help to illuminate what they have yet to
achieve. Perhaps, one day, a complementary study will highlight the accomplishments of the
next 50 years of flight in Antarctica.
LILLIAN E. NOLAN
Air Mobility Command
Command Historian
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PREFACE
Why spend time extensively reviewing a mission such as Operation DEEP FREEZE? On
balance, it represents only a sliver of the overall airlift function. For example, Air Mobility
Command flew over 44,850 airlift missions during 2005, and a mere 426 of them directly
supported DEEP FREEZE. * Yet, Operation DEEP FREEZE now spans 50‑plus years and
occurs in one of the most unique locations in the world. It is precisely this microcosm,
which covers a significant breadth of time and a depth of experience unobtainable from most
conventional air mobility missions, that makes DEEP FREEZE worthy of an in‑depth analysis.
Looking at a year‑by‑year account of such a distinctive mission provides a fascinating model
of air mobility. From this model, one can gain an appreciation of the perspective required for
such an effort, the ingenuity achieved, and adversity overcome. This model can then serve as
a baseline for other air mobility missions, whether transporting troops for a contingency, aid
to a humanitarian disaster, or logistical support for routine daily operations.
As such, this study is primarily laid out in a chronological fashion, beginning with a
quick look at the Navy’s early aviation in Antarctica. The narrative looks at each year of
the operation, but does not make an attempt to analyze every mission flown. Rather, it
looks at the difficulties, unique approaches, failures, and successes during that particular
year. Periodically (Chapters 3, 6, and 10), the narrative breaks away from this chronological
approach and presents material in a more generalized fashion, focusing instead on some of
those key issues that remained relatively constant throughout the 50 years (although, the
material in these three chapters primarily looks at those topics relative to the time period in
which they appear in the chronological narrative). The large number of photographs included
in this study is not intended to make this a picture book; each one specifically illustrates a
point in the narrative. Likewise, the appendices are intended to provide a quick reference for
key dates and statistics, as well as information to augment the narrative.
This study is intended to review the air mobility operations of the US Air Force in
Antarctica over the last 50 years. While it often mentions the parallel and overlapping efforts
of US Navy, Coast Guard, and Army personnel, and civilian scientists and contractors, as well
as the assistance of other nations, it was not feasible to cover their contributions in any great
detail in this publication, although the Air Force could not have achieved this remarkable
success in airlift operations on its own. Further research into each one’s specific role is
encouraged.
Likewise, one historian could not take full credit for such a product as this. It could
only be accomplished because of the various historians, information managers, public affairs
specialists, mission commanders, and many others who meticulously prepared DEEP
*Rpt, 18 AF TACC Executive Decision Support Division‑Fusion Cell, “2005 Yearly Highlights (01 Jan 2005 to 31 Dec
2005),” 1 Feb 06.
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FREEZE reports, collected statistical data, and preserved key documentation. Special
thanks also belong to a number of folks. Kathryn Wilcoxson, AMC Office of History, for her
expert editing and in‑depth, fact‑checking skills. Ginger Hickey, 375th Communications
Squadron, Base Multimedia Center, for her professional photo restoration, comprehensive
design layout, press setup, and creative cover design of this publication. Lillian Nolan,
director of the AMC Office of History, for her overall support and for reviewing the first
draft and providing feedback. Mark Morgan, AMC Office of History, for his valuable
insight into US Navy terminology and aircraft technology resources. Archie Difante, Joe
Caver, Toni Petito, and many others at the Air Force Historical Research Agency. Mark
Stanley and TSgt Leigh Mahnesmith, USAF Historian Development School at the Ira Eaker
College for Professional Development. Al Miller and CMSgt Dave Anderson, Air National
Guard History Office. Gary Boyd, 305th Air Mobility Wing History Office. Steve Larsen,
22d Air Refueling Wing History Office. TSgt Kevan Kipp, 62d Airlift Wing History Office.
TSgt Julie Meintel, 445th Airlift Wing History Office. John Lacomia, 60th Air Mobility
Wing History Office. Margaret Nigra, US Transportation Command Research Center.
In studying Antarctica, one must always remember that it is a harsh and volatile
environment. In 1965, one wing commander, Brigadier General James W. Chapman,
Jr., personified the region this way: “The Antarctic, fascinating as a beautiful woman, is
often as perverse and is always as unpredictable and dangerous.” * While many today
may disagree with his choice of analogy, few could argue with the sentiment. Such an
environment demanded much from those who served there. For their efforts, this study
is dedicated to all who supported the Operation DEEP FREEZE mission, especially those
who gave their lives in pursuit of this important undertaking for science and international
peace.
Ellery D. Wallwork
AMC Staff Historian
*Foreword to Rpt, Lt Col Robert D. Coffee, USAF Task Force Commander, “Final Report: DEEP FREEZE 65,” n.d.
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A NOTE ON SOURCES
The majority of sources used for this report were available in the Air Mobility
Command’s Office of History. Much of it existed in hardcopy, while some was available
only through the medium of microfilm. Several of the official documents not found at
AMC were available at the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), Air National
Guard Office of History, or the applicable wing history offices. Those documents found
in the USAF Collection at AFHRA include the call number and IRIS (inferential retrieval
and indexing system) identifier in parentheses as part of the footnote, whereby the first
number of “K490.04‑1, IRIS 00508382” refers to the call number and the second the
IRIS identifier. Most of the documents found at the AMC or wing offices are most likely
available at AFHRA as well. Additionally, a few references also used websites of the US
Naval Historical Center, US Antarctic Program, various DEEP FREEZE veterans groups,
contractor organizations, and the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
While this report is unclassified in its entirety, many of the histories and some of
the documents referenced are not, since they covered much more than Operation DEEP
FREEZE. For simplicity in building this study, I have not listed the classification of the
individual reports. However, the reader should be aware that requests to view such documents
may fall under the appropriate restrictions associated with classified information.
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